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Chilean rose tarantula

The Rose Hair Tarantula (Grammostola rosea), also known in the United States as the Chilean rose tarantula,Chilean fire tarantula or the Chilean red-haired tarantula (depending on the colormorph), is probably the most common species of tarantula available in American and European pet stores today, due to the large number of wild-caught specimens exported cheaply from their native Chile into the pet trade. The species is also known from Bolivia and Argentina.[1]

G. rosea is a common pet of tarantula hobbyists. Females have been known to live as long as 15–20 years, but due to the limited time they have been available on the market (and hence for extensive study) it is possible that they may live considerably longer than 20 years. There is considerable confusion between this species and Grammostola porteri, with some arguing that many of the "G. rosea" in the pet trade (such as the specimen in the taxobox photo to the left) actually are G. porteri.

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The G. rosea's natural habitat is the desert and scrub regions of Northern Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina.[1] While previously thought to be wanderers in nature, large numbers have been observed living in burrows in their natural habitat. They generally do not burrow in captivity. They are usually active in the evening or night.

This tarantula has a diverse menu including grasshoppers, crickets, moths, beetles, cockroaches and mealworms. It can also grab hold of a pinky mouse, although this is totally unnecessary. When tarantulas are kept as pets, the best food that can be provided for them are crickets that have been gut loaded on vegetables, as this is the best source of hydrated nutrition for the tarantula.

The Grammostola rosea has been bred in captivity for years either for research purposes or for trade and Gurley, R (n.d) states that the females profit from a ‘cooling period’ of a couple of months proceeding to the introduction of a male for mating. Once a male has reached sexual maturity he will create a sperm web before he is introduced to the female’s terrarium. He will eventually approach the female’s burrow with caution, tapping and vibrating his legs to attract her out of her shelter. At the opportune moment the male will lunge himself forward and using his hooks he will hold the female's chelicerae, pushing his mate into a vertical position giving him access to the female’s epigyne (external genitalia). The male will insert one (or even both left and right) pedipalp into the female's epigyne and inject the fertilizing fluid. Gurley, R (n.d) continues that in the weeks following fertilization, the female produces a large egg sac (usually containing around 500 spiderlings). Once a female detects an egg sac, the male then dies.

Gramostola rosea are relatively docile, low maintenance, and inexpensive, so they are popular as pets. A terrarium should be at least triple the spiders' legspan in length, with a retreat for hiding. G. rosea can be kept in relatively low humidity; overflowing the water dish one or two times a week should provide ample humidity for this species. They are quite happy living at temperatures of around 25-30°C (77-86°F), with a diet of four to six crickets every three weeks (or one locust per week). The G. rosea's feeding schedule is rather erratic, however; the spider can fast for weeks to months at a time. Fasting is sometimes an indication of an upcoming moult.

Grammostola rosea are usually skittish, running away from danger rather than acting defensively, but they may also raise their front legs and present their fangs in preparation to defend themselves. They can act especially defensive for days after moulting; this may be innate in the spiders behavior. As with the majority of tarantulas from the Americas (New World tarantulas), they have small spine-like urticating hairs on their abdomen that they kick off or release when threatened as a defense.[2]

In February 2009 a British man was treated for tarantula hairs lodged in his cornea.[2] The urticating hairs were thrown from the man's pet G. rosea while the man was cleaning its tank. Medical authorities urge owners to wear protective eyewear when handling a G. rosea.[2]